Commentary Cell Science Reviews Vol 6 No 3 ISSN 1742-8130

The KRAS and NF-κB connection: role in lung cancer development and potential for therapeutic intervention

NF-κB transcription factors are major regulators of inflammatory and immune responses. The proteins play also a critical role in cancer development and progression and provide a mechanistic link between inflammation and cancer. NF-κB pathways can promote or inhibit carcinogenesis and affect most aspects of cancer development, including cell survival and proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and DNA damage responses. The molecular mechanisms underlying the coupling between NF-κB signaling and cancer are just beginning to be understood. Recent studies have provided new insights in the link between oncogenic forms of RAS, NF-κB activation, and tumorigenesis. Activation of NF-κB has been reported to be required for the development of mutant KRAS-containing lung adenocarcinomas. Because these tumors are rather refractory to a number of chemotherapies, development of new approaches is needed to treat these cancers. Although activation of NF-κB enhances the survival and growth of mutant KRAS tumor cells, this pathway might also offer a potential target and opportunities for the development of new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of these cancers.

Click to access complete issue ($8.99) and to download full article in or formats